How to Play Pool : How to Break when Shooting Pool

Learn how to break in a game of pool from a billiards expert in this free instructional video.

Expert: Michael Lamendola
Bio: Actor Michael Lamendola has been a competitive billiards player for over 15 years.
Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• howto
• play
• better
• pool
• billiards
• cue
• stick
• eight-ball
• shot
• table
• games

[bushputz]

Staying low on the break is bad. You generate much more power with a more upright stance.

"Hit it as hard as you can"? You might as well tell them to yell, 'Fore!' before they break.

Instead:

Good, solid, closed bridge or bridge on the rail

Concentrate on hitting the head ball dead center

Smooth acceleration through the center of the cue ball

Break with about 80% max power until you get your control down

Most importantly, never go to Expertvillage for billiards advice - they're clueless.

[annswart]

third grade teacher? hahaha

[147paulh]

@bushputz you dont want to play through the centre of the cue ball, you want to put top spin on it to push the cue ball through the rest of the rack.

[tjmax0123]

to save you about 2 minuts first get a pool stick 2nd get your white ball 3rd hit it twords the big group of balls and gz you know how to break.

[bushputz]

@bushputz

Oops - I meant an absolutely awesome break shot...

[bushputz]

@allstar00442288

watch?v=Ffkl-zp96N8

watch?v=kYnxczt8_nM

watch?v=FXW974KbIsc

watch?v=APpsm3as3-w

Did you see what the cue ball did in a lot of those breaks? It hit the head ball dead center, then kind of dribbled to center table, where it just died. In none of the breaks, did the cue ball go forward, like it would if you put topspin on the cue.

Here's an absolutely awesome best break shot by Jeff De Lunas - too bad he got screwed by an unfortunate roll:

watch?v=iLDCnivOTS4

[bushputz]

@allstar00442288

I said to concentrate on hitting the HEAD BALL dead center, meaning the first ball in the rack.

Cue ball control is essential to a good break. Having the cue ball stop at center table maximizes your options in 8-Ball, and gives you the best chance of having a good shot in 9-Ball. If you break with topspin, you have not idea where the cue ball is going, or where it will stop. Watch the pros break, and watch what the cue ball does after contact.

[allstar00442288]

@bushputz why would you hit dead center? The higher up you hit it, the more power it will get. Basically like a reverse backdraw. It will go forward faster and roll with more velocity. The best way to hit it on a break is horizontally centered but vertically its about 60 - 70% up.

[XDosShane]

Why break using an open grip?

[santexluffy]

@1ctor1a who the fuck are you kidding? you never could have done that!!!!

[DullahOblongata]

Lol im here because yesterday i played pool with my friends, and when it was my turn to break, i scratched the white ball right into the corner pocket not hitting anything and it was pretty funny. I didn't feel bad for too long because the guy right after me did the exact same thing.

[DjSpeedySongs]

wow the black ball didnt move at all!!:D:D